The Atlanta Falcons will continue to take it gingerly with wide receiver Julio Jones as the former Foley High School and University of Alabama standout recovers from a broken foot. The Falcons started voluntary offseason workouts at their training facility in Flowery Branch, Ga., on Monday. On Tuesday, Atlanta coach Mike Smith said the goal for the team is to have Jones ready when the 2014 NFL season kicks off.

"Julio is participating with our athletic performance department with Marty Lauzon (the Falcons' director of sports medicine and performance) and his group," Smith said at a press conference on Tuesday. "He will be able to get out on the field and do some walk-through stuff with us when we start going. Our focus on Julio is one thing, and that's having him prepared for our opener. ... He's progressing well. We're not going to do anything to hinder his timeframe in terms of getting back to work with us."

Jones suffered a broken foot in the fifth game of the 2013 season, underwent surgery in October and stayed on crutches for almost two months.

Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan threw to route-running receivers on Tuesday morning, but Jones was not involved.

At the NFL Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla., a little less than one month ago, Smith said Jones had started a running program and was ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation. At that time, Smith said the goal was to have Jones ready for training camp.

The Falcons have not announced the opening date for training camp, but the team has a mandatory minicamp scheduled June 17-19, with OTAs set for May 20-22, May 27-29 and June 2-5.

Jones had 41 receptions for 580 yards in 2013. He led the NFL in receptions and ranked second in receiving yards to New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham when he went down. Jones was on pace to make 131 receptions for 1,886 yards last season.

Jones made the NFC Pro Bowl team in 2012, his second season in the NFL, when he had 79 receptions for 1,198 yards and 10 touchdowns.

After being selected with the sixth choice in the 2011 NFL Draft, Jones will be in the final season of his rookie contract in 2014. He's scheduled to make $2,581,875 this season. The Falcons hold a fifth-year option on Jones and have until May 3 to pick it up. If they do, Jones' salary will be $10.176 million in 2015.

"I'm not going to talk about specific contractual situations,'' Smith said on Tuesday. "I do know this: Julio Jones is going to be an Atlanta Falcon for a long, long, long time.''